Isolde heard the word. The princess did not look angry. She did not look offended.
Instead, a soft sad smile touched Isolde's lips. She looked down at her teacup, her eyes reflecting memories of the distant past.
"Damon was my childhood friend," Isolde began to explain, her voice dropping into a quiet, gentle tone.
Camilla sat silently, listening closely.
"He always came to the palace with his father when we were very young," Isolde continued, tracing the rim of her teacup with her finger. "At that time, my father had just become the King of Daril. My father had great plans to reform the kingdom. And the former Duke, Damon's father, was a brilliant General who shared the exact same interests and visions for the kingdom."
Isolde looked up, smiling fondly at the memory.
"Because our fathers spent so much time together in the council chambers," Isolde explained, "Damon spent a lot of time in these exact gardens."
